Finance Minister and head of the far-right Religious Zionism party Bezalel Smotrich has called to reestablish Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, Channel 12 reports, almost two decades after Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Palestinian enclave.
Speaking at the inaugural event for the Torah and Land Center in the southern community of Nitzan — home to many of those from the former Gush Katif settlements — Smotrich said that the next center should be built “in Gush Katif.”
“Our heroic fighters and soldiers are destroying the evil of Hamas and we will occupy the Gaza Strip. To tell the truth — where there is no settlement, there is no security,” he added.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, and Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock also attended the event, Israel Hayom reports.
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From the Liveblog of
Friday, June 7, 2024
